I write you from Annapolis, following the close of my first legislative session, proud of the work the state legislature has accomplished this year. We passed a balanced budget in a fiscally depressed climate that maintains essential public services; increased revenue in order to allocate more funds to education and programs that assist the developmentally disabled; instituted in-state tuition rates for the children of tax-paying immigrants; targeted funds to encourage innovative companies to bring their business and jobs to Maryland under Governor O’Malley’s Invest Maryland initiative; eased the burden on seriously ill patients who need medicinal marijuana to ease their pain; and continued to work on cleaning up one of Maryland’s greatest assets and treasures—the Chesapeake Bay. Indeed, it has been a productive session.

Also, I feel particularly fortunate to have personally passed three bills:

HB-329 (cross-filed by Senator Nancy King) exempts senior centers from the public information act. Prior to this bill, predatory marketers could force senior centers to hand over the private information of their members. Thanks to HB-329 that is no longer the case in Maryland.

HB-881 sets up a regulatory framework for the bio-diesel/waste kitchen grease industry. If we are to successfully urge consumers to seek out greener energy sources, we need to address the issues that arise as a result. This bill targets the issue of waste kitchen grease theft from restaurants.

HB-831, which was signed into law this morning, was initially conceived of by eight-year-old Jacob Robinson (no relation to me). It sets up a system through the Department of Natural Resources to curb the spread of invasive plants species. Invasive plants harm the environment and the economy; this bill will help get them under control.

I was also encouraged that the electricity service reliability bill passed. This vital piece of legislation creates significant penalties if PEPCO fails to meet reliability standards. Montgomery County residents deserve decent utility service, and PEPCO’s record of service is far from decent. Hopefully, this will start to change that.

As proud as I am of the bills I’ve worked on personally and collectively, I’m equally disappointed with the failure to pass marriage equality. For me, this is a matter of what kind of country we want to be. Do we want to be a country that tells some citizens they are not worthy of the right to build a family through a strong marriage, simply because the person they love is of the same sex? Do we want to be a country that sends a message to gay and lesbian children across America that they are, as my friend Delegate Luke Clippinger put it, “less than human”? Or do we want to recognize that one of our country’s biggest assets has always been its diversity? Do we want to live up to the expectations of those who delegated us to uphold the constitution?

In spite of this setback, I remain confident that marriage equality’s day will come in Maryland. You can only stand in the way of progress for so long before the tides of virtue wash away prejudice. We have seen this throughout America’s history, and, with your help, we will see it once more when marriage equality is signed into law.

In closing, I must add, that as I look at the political developments across the country—both local and federal—I can’t help but remain especially honored to be a Maryland delegate. For, in Maryland, we know collective bargaining rights are a necessity not a burden; we work to strengthen women’s health services not tear them down; we understand that diversity is an asset not a threat; and we have the foresight to invest in our future through our children’s education. It means something to be a Marylander. And it means an incredible amount to represent you in Annapolis.

Sincerely,

Shane Robinson

P.S. – On the local front, three bond bill projects were approved for District 39: $20,000 for Battleridge Place Stream Valley Restoration; $30,000 for Glenbrooke Stormwater Management Renovation; and $30,000 for Lewisberry Corridor Lighting Improvement. Also, the water park at Bohrer Park in Gaithersburg got $225,000 for upgrades.

P.P.S. – Please continue to contact me in the interim with any ideas, concerns, or issues you may have: Shane.Robinson@md.house.state.us; (301)-337-7284.

The Montgomery County Gazette featured me in a piece you can check out here.

The PEPCO reliability bill was amended in the Senate to allow for the possibility of stronger and more immediate penalties if PEPCO fails to meet reliability standards. Now, the amended bill will head back to the House. The new bill looks promising, as Senator Frosh said: “All they have to do is give us decent electrical service.” Montgomery County residents deserve better than PEPCO has been able to provide over the past few years, it is time for something to change.

Also in the Senate, the alcohol tax passed by a 27-19 margin. Once fully adopted, the measure is expected to raise $85 million at a time when funding for essential public services is difficult to find. I’m hopeful this bill will pass the House as well.The Direct Wine Shipping bill has now passed both the House and Senate, and once Governor O’Malley signs the legislation, Maryland will join three-dozen other states that allow wineries to ship directly to consumers. Now, Maryland residents can have their favorite wines sent directly to their homes. This is a common sense bill, and I’m happy to have supported it.

Unfortunately, it appears as though a bill to prevent discrimination of transgendered individuals has stalled in the Senate after passing the House. The bill is being unfairly subjected to frustration over marriage equality making it through the Senate but not the House. I was a proud supporter of the legislation, and as my colleague Senator Raskin said: “We shouldn’t express our disappointment in the failure of one major civil rights bill by killing another one.”

With only one full week left in this year’s legislative session I want to thank all those who contacted me over the past few months. It has been a pleasure listening to you weigh in on the issues, and I look forward to hearing from you in the future.